COP 15 Begins

Think of the biggest, highest tech event you've ever been to.

Then think about going to that event everyday for 2 weeks.

Welcome to my world and the Bella Center on the ocean near downtown Copenhagen...still here at 8pm after most of the day's action has slowed to a trickle...only a few thousand people are left here.

My fast is going well, I'm breaking thru the point where I think about food all the time and instead am focusing on making a difference and letting my hunger be that.

Very inspiring meeting this afternoon with Anna, Sara, Daniel and a Climate Justice Fast group...amazing Anna's clarity and focus after 32 days of water only. They are now meditating at 7 am every morning lead by Deepa a youth from India who is leading the Indian youth coalition, one of them Linkash from a small village in rural Kerala on the southwest corner of India.

His mother Aunty Kamala is a student of Ghandian philosophy and they have both been a joy to be with.  The very cool thing about this youth movement is the depth to which they see this issue and the planet as a spiritual entity that responds to loving kindness and truthful actions.  To see the gift of Climate Change in bringing people together in creating something new is a very new way of addressing a problem...leave it to the youth, I'm just happy to be hanging with them.

I continue to meet the right people at the right time....this morning on the train this musician had some strong words for his feelings about America but also the importance of getting our country into a leadership position, then I met Birgetta (and her bike) on the train and she said that this is all she thinks about and was so appreciative of my being there......likewise.

Copenhagen is so different...the little side streets take me back hundreds of years ago. Monday morning in 1759? The city is over 800 years old and the mix of old and modern is quite striking.

Yesterday at the end of COY (Council of Youth) all 500+ came outside of this Grand Old Celebration Hall for a group photo and some cheers...enough to raise the roof or perhaps the skies and let the sunshine for a moment. Here they are in all their glory...the world shapers and I for one am a solid fan of these youth.

This photo shows about half of them.

Time to find the train home and see if I can get here by 7 am tomorrow......all things possible right?

Hope everyone is well and sending light to our leaders this week and next. Tomorrow we are announcing a Global Day of Prayer, Fasting and Solidarity on Tuesday Dec. 15th the day before the big stuff happens...please join me in the  celebration of a new beginning.

                                                                                        your man on the scene

Day 3- Will My Credentials be Ready?

Off for the train and the Bella Center to get registered and back to the youth summit in town...I'm learning my way around Copenhagen and hey...don't have to be bothered by eating for the next 3 days.

Here's the link for the Fox 9 show for those of you who haven't seen it.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/buzz/greenhouse-gas-summit-december-2-2009


and another good piece on the Climate Justice Fast group:


http://www.ips.org/TV/copenhagen/hunger-strikers-in-moral-call-to-climate-action/


Thank you all for your support and encouragement...it is getting transfered directly to the youth delegates and others here through my hands (massage) your art (the banners and cards) just not sure about when the discs will start to fly...these indoor events are tricky.


I do have one soft disc and only one mini...how unprepared.


Create a magical event on 12/12 at the Lake Harriet Bandstand.


pt

Day 2- THE YOUTH TAKE CHARGE

Back from an amazing day in Center City Copenhagen...had my "last supper" before my 2nd 3 day fast and reflected on the amazing power and joy of the youth movement...500 youth from 80 countries...and they are ready to rock and roll with our world leaders.

The first youth I met was from Malaysia...my Peace Corps country (1971-73) and when I greeted him in his language it was all over...he had been to Sabah (North Borneo) where I taught school for 3 years, had climbed Mt Kinabalu twice, the highest point in SE Asia (13,455 ft.) which was outside my kitchen window and when I told him I climbed it 4 times he couldn't believe we were in Copenhagen together.

Same thing happened with youth from Somalia and Nepal and then tonight I get this message from 1 Sky

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gKSo5UNlQAcNGb7rZGXYdO0OxkZwD9CCHR3G1

About the Prime Minister holding the world's highest cabinet meeting near the base camp of Mt Everest at Kala Pattar, the peak i climbed in Nov 1974 to get a good view of Chomolongma (Tibetan name for Everest, "Mother Goddess of the World"), to bring attention to the disappearing snow and ice...ie water source for his people.

I have never felt so hopeful about our future in the midst of this mess we've created as I have today surrounded by all these energetic, passionate youth.

I even had a moment to unveil our Interactive Playscape Banner....and they loved it...Sage you should be smiling now.

Youth started filling out cards and asking about the banner and it's purpose. Almost at the same time a young woman from India was talking about how Climate Change was a blessing for the world in that it is giving us the opportunity to start "creating the world we want" as we solve the problems that we have created.

WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO YOU WANT?

as the banner says.


One where my Edina friend's daughter, whom I have never met, comes up and hugs me. I have a birthday gift for her and remember that great resolution passed by the Edina City Council brought to our attention by Chuck Prentice???? That was Valida's idea from Berlin, to her Dad in Edina and back to Copenhagen. and here's our photo from today.

That's ONE COOL PLANET!!!


What's going to happen tomorrow??

Day 1 at the Bella Center- Bikes on trains/ Youth on the Move

Here's the link from the FOX 9 Morning News program last Wednesday just before I left for Copenhagen. Thanks to Shara for setting it up and sending me the link...I hope this works.

Opps it won't let me save it here, I'll get some youth experts on it today but will send the link via e mail to all of you.

Saturday morning here, i finally got some sleep and am going to head in to the University of Copenhagen for the Youth Summit today and tomorrow. Hooked up with a bunch of the Climate Justice Youth and the Will Steger Expedition Copenhagen Youth at the Bella Center (my credentials had not been processed yet but the ICLEI, Local Govt. for Sustainability, folks are assuring me all will be well.

Jane , my host mentioned that President Obama has changed his plans and is now coming on the 18th instead of the 9th. That is the last day of the conference when the World Leaders gather to endorse, sign, reject whatever has come out of the deliberations.  I was hoping that he would do both, come early to set the tone and return for the culmination. Still waiting for him to check in with me about that. hhhmmmmmmm.

Here are a couple shots from yesterday...people with bikes on the train is my fav image of Cop so far and everyone is well aware of the convention and interested in reading your cards and what Minnesotans think about Climate Change.



The main wall where people enter the Bella Center












I start my second 3 day fast tomorrow and am inviting any readers to join me for a meal, a day or just let go of your daily latte in honor of our journey together to find multiple solutions to this pressing problem.

Some of the Expedition Copenhagen youth from the Will Steger Foundation

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After a hard days work caring for the elderly.




Remember the 350 Candlelight Vigils are one week from today  (12/12) as the World shines a bright light on COP 15....please invite your friends and family to participate.


Climate Justice Fast Youth (l-r) Sara from Sweden, Daniel from Australia living in Copenhagen and Anna, a founder, from Australia. Anna and Sara are beginning their 30th day with water only. Daniel 22nd day!

Family heading home on the train, parents, bike and baby carriage.  They said "you look scandinavian" and I told them Mona and Gustav (my grandparents) were from near Mora Sweden.


Time to hit the train station at get Sage's banner some "air time" with the youth leaders...perhaps some disc?


Enjoy your day!!


Paul in Charlottenlund


                        

The Old Country

Good Morning Copenhagen (Cop from now on).  2:48 am Cop time as my body seems to be a bit confused by the time change (8 hours). But ntl I arrived safely and had a fairly uneventful journey with few surprises and nice people.

B/c airports MSP and O'Hare charge for wifi (Bonging or something like that $7.95) I submit by Word doc to you to bring you up to speed on my preparation and a new Day 1...after counting down from Day 28, now I'm going the other way to 19..kind of puts things into perspective of TCK,TCK,TCK and the alarm that COP 15 will send to it's sleeping and awakening citizens,,,,,,

see you back here after a word from the past....thanks for your presence btw

Hmmmm Google won't let a word doc be posted...another learning .....ask me and I'll send you my story...short version

Tuesday's "All Hands On Deck" action at Peavey Plaza in downtown Mpls was a throw back to my Ski to End Hunger fasts and camp outs on the mall in July where I learned that I was to become a father....quite a day that was!!!


Here's a shot of Reed Aronow of the WSF Expedition Cop group speaking with Chuck Prentice and Kate Knuth in the background. Chuck is responsible for the Resolution which I now proudly carry (passed by the Edina City Council 4-1) as an example of local govt having a voice in the matter of Climate Change on a global level. Kate (in orange coat) is the MN State Rep from Arden Hills and New Brighton, very involved in greening our state and will be arriving in Cop on Dec 14th.....


....just when the World leaders (wait that's us) will be arriving in Cop to sign (what NASA's James Hansen the world's leading scientist on Climate Change now says "must fail" (b/c it's so flawed) the Cop Climate Treaty for our planet's road map to a healthy future.

Either way we have a lot of work to do....go to http://www.dailyclimate.org/copenhagen for all the dirt.

Also a huge shout out to Shara Motadhi (Edina HS student who is one of tomorrow's leaders today) for getting me onto FOX 9 Morning Show for a 4 minute interview on Wed morning with Kurt_________. BTW Shara, Kurt said he would post the link on the web so spread it around and send to me I'll post it here....my brief brush with TV stardom.

Speaking of stars....on my long flight from Chicago to Cop I sat next to  a young (26) attractive woman, Gita from a small city in Norway. She was returning from LA so my opening line was "so are you a movie star?"...she looks at me smiles and says "yes, I've been in LA for four days in meetings for a film I'm working on." She loves LA but can't believe how much time people spend in vehicles driving around.

The other huge thank you goes to Jen Kochevar my dear friend and one day media director...great shots and video from the Peavey Plaza event and support in getting ready for the journey....here's a shot of Jen in action and of our good bye at the MSP airport.

Amazing the skills we discover in ourselves when we are called into being for something we believe in.






The last piece that really to me is crucial is the growing partnership that the EEC (Edina Energy and Environment Commission) is building with the City Council who demonstrated that with the passing of this resolution the evening before I left:

WHEREAS, the City of Edina adopted ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Campaign on November 5, 2007 and

WHEREAS, through its actions (like forming our Edina Energy and Environment Commission) the City of Edina has demonstrated concern over global warming.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOVED, by the City Council of the City Edina strongly supports action at the upcoming UN Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen for the United States and other nations to commit to reducing green house gas emissions to a level necessary to stablilize
atmospheric CO2 levels at or below 350 ppm

Dated December 1, 2009


A BIG step for a small mid western city about to be better known on the biggest stage the climate conversation has ever seen.


Time to dive into e mail, setting up my day and riding my bike (thanks to my host Jane Vinter) for shopping and finding out "What Kind of World Do You Want?"

Reed and Bjorn at Peavey Plaza, "All Hands on Deck" action for Climate Action.

Paul in Genofte, Denmark...population 60,000

Final Errands and Time to Pack

Monday November 30,

End of the month and transition week is here. Early morning blogging is my new plan so here's a quick link to the awesome support in my life during the past week.

The photo to the right is part of the wonderful gathering at Sarah and Hamid 's last Sunday for a fundraising brunch....30 people, $530 raised and great conversation and connections as our numbers grow.
I was particulary nice to have all ages present.

Then off to Wendy's, my Power Point guru and our final session to pull together our 3 minute "Edina- The Greening of a Small Midwestern City" hmmmmmmmm how to link that here...it's on my desktop...another question for Reed today at 4:30.

Anyway thanks to Wendy and here she is with my MacBook at home.
How to create a sound track for the video is next.




The past week with schools closed and families connecting around Thanksgiving has been a lovely change of pace.

The main project has been the Minnesotans for Climate Action banner under the artistic direction of Sage and her sister. We're calling it an "interactive playscape" answering the question What Kind of World Do You Want? from the "Five for Fighting" song. The banner on top is detachable for the Dec 12th Climate action march in Copenhagen here's the team from last night.

The evening before we had a potluck dinner and Rosemary, Terry, Sage , Chuck (whose daughter Valida is going to Copenhagen as well), Nicole and 1.5 year old Aiden.

More later and the clock keeps ticking.

A Thanksgiving letter to Our President

Busily preparing for my journey to Copenhagen, mailing banners for use in Copenhagen, getting photos for the "Minnesota Speaks to Copenhagen" interactive banner that we are creating for use in Copenhagen and as usual always listening to MPR (public radio station)....just b/4 popping into the Edina Community Foundation Office to drop off receipts for my journey...the news we were waiting for came in....President Obama will be traveling to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Summit on Dec. 9th.

Thanks to all of you have contined to push our president to show up despite our Congress' inability to complete Climate Legilation. Here is my letter in response to President's Obama's Thanksgiving letter to his "Obama for America" supporters.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, you are all deep inside of my heart as I make this last week before leaving all about media attention and empowering Climate Leadership whenever possible.

Dear Barack,

Thanks for the holiday greetings and thanks so much for announcing that you will be going to Copenhagen on December 9th for the Climate Summit.

I'll be there representing my small midwestern city, Edina MN, urging you and our country to start acting like Green Leaders.

Things like:

flying to Oslo after Copenhagen and saving a trip----good thinking

stop using disposable plastic bottles---demonstrate it by using a SIGG or Klean Kanteen water bottle when you are in the public eye....when aren't you?

Turn the thermostat down at the White House...try 62-64 degrees and add a nice sweater and light fleece hat.

Sasha and Malia will love it...they are the ones who need this Green Wave to form into a Tsunami.

Look me up in Copenhagen...I'll be at the ICLEI Local Govt Lounge at the Bella Center....with the "Minnesota Speaks to Copenhagen Banner" an interactive playscape for creating a new world...you'll love it and I can finally play some disc with you....Michelle has received 2 of my Cool Planet frisbees and I'm wondering how you like them?

Check out my blog and send a message for me to post with my friends, that would be cool.

http://ptfydisc-onecoolplanet.blogspot.com/

...good work on pardoning the turkey...does that mean your T-day meal is going to be "meat free?"

Another easy way for Americans to cut our carbon....Meatless Mondays would also make Americans thinner and healthier.

Swing out Barack, we need some major intervention on this one...17% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 isn't even close to what is needed. 350 ppm ASAP is what is needed for Sasha, Malia and all of us. Let's get busy...last year I was delivering a banner to your home in Kenwood (couldn't get close but Erik Paulsen, my Congressperson said he's get it to you...did that happen? It was about 35 feet long with congratulation messages and urging you to go to Poznan Poland for the climate talks last year.), this year I just mailed 5 banners to Copenhagen for the summit promoting the 350.org message....will we finally meet????

I won't give up til we meet and I celebrate your continued energy smart leadership.

Happy Thanksgiving...see you on December 9th

Paul Thompson
Edina Energy and Environment Commissioner
ICLEI Delegate at the UN Climate Summit
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer- Borneo 1971-73

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are all in harmony"

Gandhi

Paul Thompson
4244 Crocker Ave
Edina, MN 55416-5012
952-920-1547

Cool Planet- connecting people with nature, energy use, and a changing climate.